Jacob Ogles
The Senate reconsidered legislation on zoning regulations that died on the floor last week. But when Sen. Stan McClain brought his legislation (SB 1080) back, he immediately dumped provisions that threatened rural boundaries in counties across the state.
The Ocala Republican kept a focus on the bill’s central goals, including streamlining the comprehensive plan process and regulating instances when counties can hike impact fees by an “extraordinary” amount.
He suggested that the legislation was in stronger posture for the extended process before its passage.
“Thank you for all of your input on this,” McClain said.
He also took up language on agricultural enclave development that had been proposed last week by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican, that McClain deemed “unfriendly” on the floor.
That means language undoing rural boundaries no longer appears in the bill as passed. That softened the opposition of groups like Save Seminole County.
“With the Agricultural Enclave language removed, this bill is no longer a threat to our rural areas,” the group posted on Facebook. “The bill does make life a little harder on cities, but does not force them to approve zoning changes as the prior versions did.”
The bill last week attracted a rare rebuke on the floor in a 19-18 vote. Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Miami Shores independent who had voted against the bill, made a motion Thursday to bring the legislation back for reconsideration.
Senators went home for the weekend the same evening, and McClain brought a prior version of the bill forward, along with a new amendment. This time the bill passed 26-8.
Several Democrats remained opposed to the legislation based on concerns about preemption of local government and passing down unfunded mandates.
“I have one of the largest counties in the state, which is Broward, and our County Administrator had expressed concern over how much this would cost in terms of financial responsibility, for the penalties, the administrative costs,” said Sen. Barbara Sharief, a Davie Democrat and former Broward County Mayor.
McClain said counties should not feel a financial impact so long as they process planning changes in a timely fashion.
Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, pressed on the impact on quasi-judicial proceedings held by counties and cities on zoning changes and planning decisions. Sharief and Smith voted against the bill both times it landed on the floor.
McClain noted that the Senate legislation still differs from a companion bill (HB 579) in the House and that the bill will likely land on the floor again. He said he would be happy to consider additional amendments that address the concerns of Senators.
